Block



(No M0555) A J; PIERCE, JI'. BLOCK.

No. 550,553. y Patented Nov. 25, 1895.

Witwe/.wea

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH PIERCE, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,563, dated November26, 1895.

Application filed March 28, 1895. Serial No. 543,525. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, Josmn PIERCE, Jr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Blocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use `thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in blocks; and it consists inproviding a block with-a plurality of illustrations of animals or otherdevices superimposed over the edges of the said block and provided withsimilar section-lines along the said edges, whereby the said block isadapted to combine with any number of similar blocks, and yet the saidblock shows when examined from any of the said edges a complete figureor design. The top and bottom of the said block may be provided withillustrations of a similar type or of any other type, or maybe leftblank, if desired.

The said invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters andnumerals throughout the several views.

Figure l represents a blank made of cardboard or any similar materialfrom which the hereinafter-described block may be manufactured; and Fig.2 represents a perspective View of three blocks constructed according tomy invention and put together to form certain combinations hereinafterto be described.

B, B', and B2 represent threelblocks constructed according to myinvention and placed the one beside the other, as shown in Fig. 2. Theblank for manufacturing one of these blocks, or the paper case which maybe used to inclose a cubical block of wood or other material, is shownin plan in Fig. l, where B0 represents the blank or paper case, as thecase may be, and b," b2, b3, h4, h5, and h6 represent the various panelsforming the sides of the cubical block. These panels are capable ofbeing folded upon the dotted lines l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and (i, while thepanels b', b3, and

h4 are provided with flaps or edges b, which are inclined, as at bo, andshould preferably be faced with glue, so that when the said panels arefolded into a quadrangular form the panels Aof the block is completed.

blocks may be readily computed; but the b5 and b may be turned down uponand glued to the said iiaps, whereby the cubical exterior Printed,stamped, painted, or otherwise applied across the fold l before theblank is made up is the figure of some object, whether animate orinanimate is immaterial, which object is represented in Fig. l as arhinoceros. Another object is similarly arranged across the fold 2,which in Fig. lis represented as a dromedary, and similarly for the fold3, Where a kangaroo is `shown. The fold @L is completed by the junctionof the outer edges of the panels h and b4, and thus the four sides ofthe block are covered with 1i gures, part of which are on one side ofthe block and part of Which are on the other side of the block; but thesaid figures all have section-lines on the edges of the block of equaldimensions and similarly disposed relative to the base of the block.

For symmetrys sake the top and the bottom of the block, represented bythe panels b5 and h6, respectively, are provided with illus- 75 trationsof afsimilar type; but this is entirely immaterial and has no bearingupon the essence of my invention.

It will be seen that Where several blocks are constructed similar tothat shown diagrammatically in Fig. l the various devices on any one ofthe said blocks will combine with the devices shown on thesides of anyone of the other blocks to form figures, which may be either correct,'asby proper junction 8 5 of t-Wo similar blocks, or fantastic, as shown inFig. 2, Where three of the blocks are shown as connected together andpart of the dromedary shown on one block combines With a part of thekangaroo shown on the other block to form an imaginary animal, which thejunction of the two blocks entitles a dromega- Again, the junction ofthe two blocks B and B2 (shown in Fig. 2) represents an imaginary animalformed by the junction of 95 half of an alligator with the other half ofa rhinoceros, which the blocks show as named an alliceros The possiblecombinations of a few of these IOO number of said combinations for, say,a dozen blocks is almost beyond comprehension.

Vhile I have shown animals on the said blocks, any other suitabledevices or designs may be applied and the same or similar .effeet may beproduced.

I am aware that blocks of various descriptions have been made upon whichsliced pictures have been placed, which pictures when put together as amosaic form a completed picture. I am also aware that blocks and otherdevices have been made in which the section-lines along the edges of thesaid blocks are so arranged as to register with similar section-linesalong the edges of other blocks, and thus the same blocks may be used torepresent a diversity of diierent devices made up oi' interchangeablehalves. In these various devices, however, the object is represented ashalf on one block and half on the other and only one part of the objectcan combine with one part of some other object, while the blocks asdetached represent no complete design. In my invention, however, the twoparts of a complete illustration are bent over the folds or corners ofthe block, so that when the block is looked at edgewise the entireillustration is seen, and yet when other similar blocks are brought intoj uXtaposition thereto the said blocks can combine with either half ofany of the said objects to form other objects or illustrations. Theeffeet oi this is to double the number of combining faces, and hence tomultiply the number of combinations to a large extent.

It will be evident that oblong or hexagonal Vblocks or any other blockswhich are adapted other illustrations may be substituted for the animalsrepresented in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A plurality of blocks each provided with a plurality of designs orfigures stamped, printed or painted across the angular edges of each ofsaid blocks and so arranged that one part of each of said designs orfigures will be on one side of one of said edges, and the other part onthe other side of said edges, and the imaginary section made by the saidedge shall register with the imaginary sections made by the similaredges of the other blocks, substantially as described.

2. rlhe combination with a block provided with designs or figuresprinted or painted across the edges thereof and extending on either sideof said edges, of a second similar block having designs or figures alsoprinted or painted across the edges thereof and also extending on eitherside of said edges, the iinaginary section lines made by the said edgesbeing adapted to registerwith each other, and either part of one designbeing adapted to form a composite figure with either part of any designon the other block, substantially as described.

3. A blank for blocks comprising three panels transversely disposed, andfour pan els longitudinally disposed, the said panels being adapted tofold as shown, with designs or iigures stamped, printed or paintedacross some of the said folds, and so arranged that the imaginarysection lines made by the said folds shall be at the same positionrelative to the base of the block, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH PIERCE, Jn. lVitnesscs:

Jos. II. BLAcKWooD, .ToHN CHALMERS XVILsoN.

